What Is the Standard Size of a Gate in a Fence?

Gates can be made from all kinds of materials, such as wood, steel or iron. They can be used to either blend in with a fence or wall around a house or as a decorative element.

Although many gates can be custom-made to fit the yard, front lawn or house it's near, they also come in standard sizes that make them easy to order and incorporate in any home. There are also various types of gates with different uses. So to know what size to get, it's best to first know what the gate will be used for and where it will be placed.

A driveway gate is usually very wide to make room for different types of vehicles for parking in a garage, a backyard or front yard. Many driveway gates are placed over a rail so that they can easily be slid open and shut for having vehicles, such as trucks, cars or large lawn mowers, go through them.

Driveway gates are usually 10 to 12 feet wide to fit cars, large rideable lawnmowers and even farm equipment. Larger gates that are meant to accommodate incoming and outgoing traffic can be about 18 feet wide.

Unlike sliding gates, swinging gates can be made up of one large gate that swings open and shut, or two gates that connect and open and close. They're also ideal for various vehicles coming and going at the same time. Because they're made for a higher traffic volume, these gates usually start out at 14 feet wide. Other standard sizes for swing gates are 16 feet wide and even 18 feet wide. Since they're made to accommodate large fences and cars, they tend to be taller than pedestrian gates.

Though the measurements above are the standard manufactured sizes, there are many gates that can be customized for specific areas and fences. It is worth keeping the standard sizes in mind when planning where to put a gate and the type needed for a home or business.

Front or back gates are usually for pedestrian access, and they usually aren't meant for cars or any other large vehicle. They're usually called garden gates. Since only people are going to be walking through, they are usually from 32 to 36 inches wide.

Their height and material often correlate with the fence they happen to be connected to. Manufactured gate heights are usually 4 to 5 feet, but can also be made higher or lower depending on the fence they're attached to.